Puzzle.



L. P. DAUTREMONT.

PUZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED Auw/I. 1914.

Wl TIVESSES A TURNEYS LOUIS PAUL DAUTBEMONT, 01E DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

PUZZLE.

pccioatlon of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3, 1MM.

Application Bled August 14k, 19M. Serial No. 356,756.

To all lwhom. it may camera:

Be it known that I,.LoU1s PAUL D-AUTRE- MoN'r, acitizen of the United States, residing in the city of Duluth, State of Minnesota, have invented certain newY and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to block puzzles,

and particularly block puzzles of that type which consists, in whole or in part, of units or divisions comprisingthree airs of members crossing each other, an each of the pairs embracing one of the other two pairs and being embraced by the remaining pair, and has as its primary aim the production of a difficult and interesting puzzle-of simple structure.

Another aim is the production of a puzzle of the type described, which offers an easy initial step, both in its construction and taking apart, whereby one is tempted to try to solve it, then followed by an extremely difficult and unlooked for step, whereby one will be generally foiled in this attempt.

According to the present invention, the parts are constructed so that in the act of disassembling the parts, the longitudinals can be moved first longitudinally relative to each other and subsequently transversely relative to each other.

In the preferred form of construction, the puzzle comprises ten parts, two companion longitudinals, with two companion verticals and two companion laterals at each end of the longitudinals. .When in assembled position these ten parts constitute two sets of double crosses.

The construction of the parts in this preferred form is such that the longitudinals are first slid longitudinally relative to each other, then two of the verticals are slid along the longitudinals and finally the longitudinals are moved transversely relative to each other, after which transverse movement the various parts can be readily separated.

As showing a specific embodiment of the invention, referenceis made to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents in perspective a view of the puzzle with' the parts assembled; Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the two longitudinals shown in vertical `position; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the verticals; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another vertical; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the laterals shown in a vertical position; and Fi 7 is a perspective view of another lateral s own in a vertical position.

The fpuzzle construction comprises one of each o the parts shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and twoof each of the parts shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Figs. 8 and 9 are plan views respectively of the upper and lower companion longitudlnals. Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive illustrate in plan the four laterals, and Figs. 14 to 17 are front elevations of the verticals. These Figs. 8 to 17 are useful in illustrating how the various arts may be assembled.

From an'inspection of the drawing it will be observed that the uzzle consists of ten rectangular pieces et) equal cross section; shown in Figs. 2 to 13 inclusive, and when assembled as shown in Fig. 1, the puzzle consists of five pairs of members, viz: one pair of longitudinals X and Y,\"\two pairs `of laterals C, D, and C', D', and two pairs of verticals A, B and A', B', and from Fig. 1 it will be observed that the longitudinal members embrace the lateral members and are embraced by the vertical members, and

that the puzzle forms two distinct halvesv similar in external appearance.

rlhe upper longitudinal is indicated by X and Fig. 8 shows in plan said lon it'udinal X when in assembled position s own in Fig. 1, and Fig. 9 shows in plan the lower longitudinal when in said assembled position.

In Fig. 1, the upper and lowerlongitudinals are designated respectively by the refcrence characters X and Y, the transversely and horizontally extending laterals by C',

D', D and C, and the transversely and'vertically extending verticals by A', B', A and B. It will be noted that the laterals C' and D and the verticals A and B are located near the right hand ends of the longitudinals X and Y and provide with the latter one set of double crosses, while the laterals D and U and the verticals A and B, which are near the left hand ends of the longitudinals X and Y provide with the 4latter anotherl set of double crosses.

The parts marked C and C ,are clearly illustrated in Fig. 6', ywhile the parts marked D and D' are illustrated in Fig. 7. In view of the fact, however, that the parts shown in Fig. 6 occupy reverse positions at diferent endsy of the puzzle, and the samel beiffg true of the parts shown inFig. 7, Figs. 10 to 13 have been supplied. A.

In Fig. 10 there 1sa plan view of the lateral C when said lateral is in the assembled position shown in Fig.l 1, while Fig. 13 shows in plan the lateral C when said lateral is in said assembled position. From Fig. 10 it will be observed that thepart C has the cut 10 on the under portion and the projection 12 on the upper portion, while in Fig. 13 it will be observed that' the cut 10 is on the upper'portion and (that the projection 12 is on the lower portion.

, Figs. 11 and 12 show the arrangement of i f theparts D and D (which are clearly i1lustrated" in Fig. 7) when said parts are in assembled os1tion illustrated in Fig. 1. In Fig. 11 tiie cut 13 is on the' upper side and the cut 14 is on the right side, while in Fig.

` 12 the cut 13 is on Athe lower side and the are positioned, so that in Fig. 14 the cut or notch 9 is in the upper part of the front face, while in Fig. 17 the cut or notch 9 is positioned so that it is at the lower part of the rear side of the member. B and B in Figs. 15'and 16 are 'clearly shown in Fig. 5, but in Fig. 15 it will be observed that the 'notch or cut 8 is located in the rear side of the part B', while in Fig. 16 the notch or cut 8 is located in the front side of the part B.

From an inspection. of Figs. 2 to l6 inclusive, yit will be observed that the various parts shown therein are square in'cross section and that they are each of a units width and a units thickness-see, for instance, the dimensions U-V. Y

, As for the longitudinal shown in perspect'ive in Fig. 2 and in plan in Fig. 8,l lit will be observed that there is a cut or notch 2 vwhich is located on the under portion. This out 2 extends from the front to the rear face of the longitudinal X, a units length along the same, and a half units depth upward into the longitudinal. This same member X is notched at 3 on the under portion and atl 4 on the front portion. Thel notches 3 and 4 Aare contiguous and the notch 3 is similar in all respects to the notch 2 with the exception that it extends along themembenX onlyy a half units length.l The notch 4 extends from the upper face of the longitudinal X to the lower face, and along the longimanne tudinal for a units len h. The notch 4 extends rearwardly into t e longitudinal a half units length. v.

The longitudinal Y shown in Figs. 3 and 9 .has the notch 5 located at its rear side and the notches or cuts 6 'and'7 located on its top portion. The notch 5 extends' from the upper to the lower surface of the part Y,

Aalong the part Y a units length and forwardly into the part Y a half units length.

lThe notches 5 and 6 are contiguous and the notch 6 extends along the part Y a half units length. The notch 7 extends along the part Y a units length. Both the notches 6 and 7 extend from the front face to the rear face of the part Y and downwardly into tlievmember Y a half units length.

Vertical B will now be described. This member is provided with a notchv or cut 8 on its rear face. This notch 8 extends from the right face to the left face of the member B upwardly along the member B for two units length and forwardly into the part' B a half units length. As the member B isthe same as B with the exception that when in place it is turned 180 degrees around a centrally located horizontal axis, a further description of the part B is deemed unnecessary.

The vertical'A shown in Fig. 14 and also in Fig. 4, has the notch or cut'9 located on its front portion. This notch 9 extends fromlthe right face to the left face of the member A upwardly along the said member A for a. units length, and rearwardly into the member A a half units length. Vertical A is exactly the same as A only whenassembled A is swung 180 degrees around va horizontal axis.

The lateral C shown in plan in Fig. 10, and illustrated more fully 1n Fig. 6, when in the position shown in Fig. 10, is provided n its under face with a notch or cut 10 that extends from the right face to the left face, along the member C a units length, and upwardly into the member C' a half units length. This member C is also provided on its left hand portion with a cut that extends (except as noted below) from the lower face to the upper face, along the member C two units length and into said mem ber C a half units length. This notch is indicated by 11. It will be noted, however, that there is left on this member a projec tion 12 which is left within `the last mentioned notched portion. This projection 12 is located on the upper portion of the lateral C and is substantlally of a units length and a half units thickness. In other words, thisprojection is so located and positioned that the roof of the notch 10 and the under surface of this projection are in substantial alinement.

The lateral C shown in Fig. 13 is exactly the same as lateral C` only 1n Fig. 13 the mamas vto the left face of the member, along the member a units length and downwardly into the member a half units length. This notch is designated as 13. The member D is also.provided at its right hand portion with a notch 14. This notch 14 extends from the upper surface to the lower surface, along said member for two units length and to the left into said member a halt` units len h. r1`he part D is exactly the same as when the latter is swun 180 ldegrees around a horizontal axis. t will also be observed that the notches and the projections in the parts shown in Figs. 6 and 7, namely in the laterals, are symmetrical.

From an inspection of Figs. 2, 3, 8 and 9,

' it will be observed that there is located between cuts 6 and 7 and cuts 2 and 3 what may be referred toas projecting portions 15 and 16. These projecting portions must be at least, and preferably are, one and a half units length, whereby when assembled there will be one-half units distance between the laterals D and D. This space is necessary in order to permit a movement of the verticals B and Bf along to the longitudinals, and also a longitudinal movement to take place between the parts X and Y when the puzzle is being assembled and disassembled.

From the solution as given below and from the puzzle itself, it will be found that the two halves act against each other and also act together, each half partly opening simultaneously inwardly after which movement under conditions as stated below,- a lateral movement is ermitted, and then a vertical movement, rom whichit will be observed that the puzzle has a compound functioning consisting of a consecutlve longitudinal, lateral and vertical movement of the longitudinals, and that the two halves interact and act together, producing a single puzzle requiring a solution entlrel diiierent from that of either half alone an operating on different principles.

From the drawing it will be observed that all cuts areone-half cross section or multiple thereof in width, and one-half cross section in depth, which makes the structure simple and cutting easy and permits the movements as given.

From Fig. 1 it will be observed that the longitudinals, X and Y, are common to both halves, and from Figs. 2 and 3 and Figs. 8

and 9 it will be observed that the longitudinal X has two transverse grooves vand and 'a vertical groove 4, and the longitudlnal Y has similar grooves 5, 6 and f7 respectively, and when the puzzle is assembled as in Fig. 1, the outer laterals C and C., pass through rooves 2 and 5 and 3 and 6, respectively, 1n the longitudinals, X and Y, and the inner laterals D and D pass through grooves 2= and 6 and 3 and 5 res ectively, in the longitudinals X and Y, rom which it will be observed that the longitudinals are not held stationary byl the embraced laterals, and the vertical A passing through the vertical roove 4 in longitudinal X and the vertical passin through the vertical groove 7 in longitudinal Y and the other two verticals B and B not passing through grooves in either of the longitudinals, from which the longitudinals are not held stationary by the embracing verticals.

When the puzzleis assembled, as in Fig. 1, the inner laterals D and D', are separated from each other by a distance equal to onehalf the cross section of the pieces, then when the longitudinals are slid lengthwise over each other until the action is stopped by the inner laterals engaging each other, the movement is equal to one-half the crosssection of the pieces, which limit movement is not suiicient to permit any of the pieces being taken fromthe puzzle, but is suicient to permit other movements when the two vertical members not passing through any groove in the longitudinals, are drawn toward the ends of the puzzle.

The laterals C, C', D, D have shanks 12 and 13 respectively, shown in Figs. 6 and 7, which Shanks are two cross sections in length and of a diameter equal to or less than the transverse groove in the longitudinals through which they pass. This permits them to be slid in the groove when the longitudinals have been moved lengthwise, and whichY shanks extend one-half cross section on each side of the longitudinals, which in solving the puzzle permits the longitudinals to be moved laterally for one-half cross section.

Taking a single half of the puzzle it will be found to be very simple, consisting of its half of the common longitudinals, two laterals passing through transverse grooves in alternate longitudinals, one vertical passing through a vertical groove in' one of the longitudinals, and the other -vertical not passing throu h grooves in either longitudinal. Now i one-half of the puzzle is revolved 180 degrees about the long axis of the puzzle, then each set of companion pieces revolve 180 degrees about their shortest axis, then the cuts in the pieces revolve 180 degrees about the short axis of the piece which is at right angles to the long axis of the puzzle, it roduces the other half; or if one half is m0 eled after a half revolved mirrored reliection ofthe other half it produces the same result, the reflecting sur ace being at the center of the puzzle and at right angles natural crystal to its twin, with the excep- `tion that the twinning axis coincides with the long axis of the puzzle instead of being at an angle with it, and from the halves of the puzzle being separated from each other by one-half cross section of the pieces and the pieces s0 constructed to permlt the required m0vements, a very subtle and intricate puzzle is produced, operative on principles not -operative in either half alone and involving a new departure in puzzles.

Totake down the puzzle, hold it in the position shown in Fig. 1, shde the longitudinal X to the right until the lateral D strikes lateral D', then move the vertical B to the right as far as it will go and the vertical B to the left as far as it will go, and their keep all other'parts the same, and while maintaining the verticals B and B as far from each other as possible, shove or work the longitudinal X transversely relative to the longitudinal Y and toward the rear, and when the longitudinals have been moved a half unit transversely relative to each other, the upper end of the vertical B will be released so that it can be slid downwardly a half units length and the lower end of the vertical B will be released from the longitudinal Y whereby the vertical B can be slid upwardly a half units distance. The parts are now in such position that by merely,

lifting the longitudinal X u wardly away from the longitudinal Y, all o the parts will l be -readily disassembled.

To assemble the puzzle, take the lower longitudinal Y and place lateral D on it in the small groove 6, shoving D from you toward the rear until the lower projecting part of the lateral D strikes against the longitudinal Y at K; place lateral D on Y and against lateral D and then slide the vertical A in from the right toward and I against the lateral D' and in the cut of the latter. Then place vertical A on the front side of the longitudinal Y and move it from the lefttoward the right toward and into engagement vwith lateral D and into the cut 14 of the latter. Now lace longitudinal X between the verticals A and A and move it downwardly until the cut 3 receives the top narrow portion of lateral D. Then brlng the vertical B in from the right and the vertical B in from the left. The lower surface L of part B should be in alinement with the lower surface of the longitudinal Y at this time and the upper surface M of the vertical B should be in alinement with the top surface of the longitudinal X. See that B is to the ri ht a half units distance more than A- and t at B is to the left a half units distance more than A. Also see that X 1s slid to the right a half units distance along Y'from the osition shown in Fig. 1 and rearwardly@ alf-units distance from that shown 'in 1. Then raise, or mainta1n 1n a raised position, thelongitudinal X so that it will be a half unitsdistance above long1tudmal Y and place the laterals` C and C 1n respectivel from the right and left whereby the projection 12 on C can finally be caused to enter the upper portion of the cut .8 whlch is in B and whereby 'the pro- Jection 12 on C can finally be caused to enter the lower portion of the cut 8 which is in vertical B. See that vertical B is now positioned so that its surface M will be a half unit above the upper surface of longitudinal X and that lower vertical B is ositioned so that its surface L will lbe a half unit below the lower surface of lon 'tudinal Y. Now all the parts are in su stantial position whereby they can be worked together by forcing the verticals toward each other and by forcing the longitudinals downwardly toward each other, thence horizontally and transversely and linally longitudinally relative to each other. In other words, by continuously pressing all or the members together they maybe caused to assume the position shown in Fig. 1. In doing this, however, it will be observed that the longitudinals X and Y have a com ound movement relative to each other, v1z., first X is' moved in a vertical path transversely relative to Y, then in a horizontal path transversely relative to Y, and finally longitudinally relative to Y.

Concerning the solution of the puzzle by hardly more than piling the pieces on one another, one can readily get the two longitudinals, four verticals and two laterals in place, or the two longitudinals, two verticals and four laterals, or one-half of the puzzle finished, from this one imagines that the construction is quite easy and is tempted to try it, but the diliiculties of its actual -con struction will be known to one who solves it, or may be guessed at fromv the solution as contained in this specication; and in taking the puzzle apart the first step is ve easy, consisting of sliding the lon tudina s over each other until theirmotion 1s stop ed by the inner laterals engagin each ot er, the pieces will do this by t emselves by simply turning the puzzle over in the hands but the next step is out of the ordina an with nothing whatsoever to indicate w at it should be, and one in vain tugs at the different pieces, imagining the puzzle is dissected by simply pushing out some key block.

If desired, metal pegs p may be inserted in the laterals C and C' and peg-receiving holes o may be provided in the laterals D and D'. These holes o receive the pegs p when the puzzle parts are in closed position, and when the parts are in this positionthe inner sides of the pegs just referred to are within a half units distance of the verticals which are inclosed bythe laterals, so that the verticals cannot be turned under them. The object of the pegs is to prevent by their projecting portions, when the longitudinal pieces have been moved lengthwise, the possibility of the movable pieces B and B from being forced out to the back and front or from being put in from the back or front.

The puzzle parts will operate perfectly if the cutting is accurate, but in a loose cutting the movable verticals in some instances can be vforced out to the front and back. The pegs are therefore put in to prevent this in case the cutting should be loose, but it will be understood, however, that the puzzle can be made with or without the pegs in question without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

It will furthermore be noted that the im provements herein set forth are not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described as they may be embodied in various forms and modifications and still realize the inventionherein sought to be protected.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A puzzle comprising two companion longitudinals, two companion verticals and two companion laterals, the lower longitudinal having on its rear portion a cut which extends from its bottom face to its upper face, along the longitudinal a units length and forwardlv into the longitudinal a half units depth, and a cut contiguous to the first mentioned cut, which second cut is located on the upper portion of the longitudinal and extends from the front face to the rear face of the longitudinal, along the longitudinal a half units length and downwardly into the longitudinal a half units length, the upper longitudinal being provided on its under portion with a cut which extends from the front face to the rear face of the longitudinal, along the longitudinal a units length and upwardly into the 4said longitudinal a half units depth, one of said laterals having on its right portion a cut which extends from the upper face to the lower face, along said lateral two units length and to the left into said lateral a half units depth, and a cut on its upper portion which extends from the right face to the left face, along the lateral a units length, and downwardly into said lateral a half units length, the other companion lateral being provided on its under portion with a cut which extends from its right face to its left Jface, along said lateral a units length and upwardlyk into said lateral one half units depth, and a second cut on its left portion which extends from its upper face to its lower face, along said lateral for two units length and to the right into said lateral a half units depth, with the exception that there is left in said last mentioned cut a projection at the upper portion of said lateral which extends along the lateral a units length, one of said verticals being provided on its rea-r portion with a cut that extends from the right face to the left face of the vertical, along said vertical for two units length and into said vertical a half units length, the other of said companion verticals being provided on its front portion with a cut that extends from the right face to the left face of said vertical along said vertical a units length and rearwardly into said vertical a half units len th.

2. A puzzle having two sets o verticals, two sets of laterale, and one set of horizontals; the verticals being embraced by the laterals, and the laterals being embraced by the horizontals, two of the lateral members being provided with a peg and a hole in the two adjacent lateral members to receive the protruding part of said peg when the puzzle is in closed position. j A

3. A puzzle having two sets of verticals', two sets of laterals, and a set of horizontals; the verticals being embraced by the laterals, and the laterals being embraced by the horizontals, the puzzle having a stationary metal peg inserted the inner'side of each of said pegs being within one half units distance of the inclosed vertical, said inclosed vertical being movable after the longitudinal pieces have been moved lengthwise and while the longitudinals are held stationary in said moved position.

This specification signed and witnessed this 5th day of August A. D. 1914.-.

LOUIS PAUL DAUTREMONT.

Signed in the presence of- OLIvER S. ANDRESEN, RAE Znnovsxr.

in two of the lateral members, 

